demise

1 of 2

noun

de·​mise di-ˈmīz How to pronounce demise (audio)
1
a
: death
b
: a cessation of existence or activity
c
: a loss of position or status
2
: the conveyance of an estate
3
: transfer of the sovereignty to a successor

demise

2 of 2

verb

demised; demising

transitive verb

1
: to convey by will or lease
demise an estate
2
: to transmit by succession or inheritance
3
obsolete : convey, give

intransitive verb

1
2
: to pass by descent or bequest
the property has demised to the king's heirs

Examples of demise in a Sentence

Noun … invited visitors to play a game in which points are awarded to those who predict the demise of yet another overhyped dot-com. Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 14 Sept. 2000
This elegant little book is essential reading for anyone interested in the demise, the terminal silliness, of our culture. John Irving, New York Times Book Review, 6 Apr. 1997
Like books, board games appear headed for imminent demise at the hands of cathode-ray terminals. Will Manley, Booklist, 1 Mar. 1995
She had no property at the time of her demise. The musician met an untimely demise. We have not had truly local news coverage since the town newspaper's demise three years ago. Losing this game will mean the team's demise. Verb our much beloved, recently demised leader
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The auditor’s auditors The PCAOB was established in 2002 in reaction to the collapse of former accounting firm Arthur Andersen, which was precipitated by its role in energy giant Enron’s high-profile demise. Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024 Her death stands as a poignant reminder of the multiple systems that failed her, ultimately leading to her preventable demise. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 The demise of the news conference also erased the last vestiges of the reform era. Li Yuan, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Binkley will co-produce the Winner Takes All adaptation, which will be set mainly in the 1990s as Wynn’s drive for power set up his ultimate corporate demise. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 The gradual demise of the American department store can be blamed on many factors: competition from big box retailers, a shift to online shopping and activist shareholders fighting for control of the company’s board. Chris Isidore, CNN, 27 Feb. 2024 Prigozhin's demise was followed by the arrest of other nationalist figures critical of Putin's failure to execute the war. Charles Maynes, NPR, 24 Feb. 2024 Busted at the border The demise of Blue Lake Fishing Products began at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on July 22, 2011. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 And in the demise of decaying startups, the opportunity for other startups is created. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Even the reports of the Suns’ demise that the Mavs created may be premature. Dallas News, 31 May 2022 The full ramifications of FTX’s insolvency and demise remain unclear, but many investors who had stored cryptocurrency on the exchange stand to lose a great deal. Mia Taylor, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2022 According to James Sinclair, director of marine archaeology for the AllenX Maravillas project, the researchers are delving into the mystery of the ship’s demise by thoroughly mapping all of their finds. Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2022 Ann, who’s starring in a new opera at Disney Hall, embraces her character’s nightly demise with a grand passion that her audiences find cathartic. Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2021 Sadly, the bankruptcy of the company’s battery supplier A123 Systems in 2012 led to the Fisker Automotive’s demise a year later. James Morris, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2021 Ruby, a lifelong Californian, takes the country’s demise seriously. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English dimise, from Anglo-French demise, feminine of demis, past participle of demettre to dismiss, from Latin demittere to send down, from de- + mittere to send

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of demise was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near demise

Cite this Entry

“Demise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demise. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

demise

noun
de·​mise
di-ˈmīz
1
2
: an ending of existence or activity
the demise of a newspaper

Legal Definition

demise

1 of 2 transitive verb
de·​mise di-ˈmīz How to pronounce demise (audio)
demised; demising
: to convey (possession of property) by will or lease
the demised premises

demise

2 of 2 noun
1
: the conveyance of property by will or lease : lease
2
: the transmission of property by testate or intestate succession
3
: charter of a boat in which the owner surrenders completely the possession, command, and navigation of the boat

called also bareboat charter

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from feminine past participle of demettre to convey by lease, from Old French, to put down, give up, renounce, from Latin demittere to let fall and dimittere to release

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